Barnes Happy to Be Staying at Home

He played high school football locally at Old Mill and lives in Glen Burnie, Md. Barnes may have gone higher had a shoulder injury not caused him to miss six games as a senior. He came across as a bright confident, young man, and had a very impressive score of 41 on the Wonderlic test given to all prospects.

Barnes said he is thrilled to be able to stay local as a pro, and was surprised the Redskins grabbed him with their first pick of the second day of the draft.

"I was pretty much speechless," Barnes said. "I really wasn't expecting them to pick me. I hadn't really talked to them too much in the process."

Barnes, however, was very well schooled on Washington's needs at corner and its depth chart. He shares an agent (Todd France) with Skins starter Carlos Rogers and tries to keep tabs on the corner mix with all NFL teams. Rogers and DeAngelo Hall are set as the starters for 2009, but there is much uncertainty beyond that.

"I know they re-signed DeAngleo, and I know Carlos is on the last year of his deal, and [Fred] Smoot, he's getting a little bit older, and I'm ready to get in there and compete and make an impact."

Barnes did not mention second-year corner Justin Tryon, whom Washington selected in the fourth round last year (he was the first defensive player they chose). Tryon's small size works against him and he had a very difficult transition to the NFL game, so Barnes could come in and try to compete for the nickel spot. The Redskins face what could be a complicated negotiation with Rogers after giving Hall $23 million guaranteed, so quality depth at corner will be important.

"I feel like I can compete with anybody," Barnes said. "I'm a big corner, but I also move like a smaller guy."

Barnes fractured his shoulder making a tackle last season - his hit caused a fumble - which probably hurt his draft stock some (that turned out to be his final college appearance). A small pin was surgically placed in the shoulder, but he said numerous medical teams checked him and the procedure will not limit him.

"It was my last hit [as a Terp]," Barnes said. "Even though I got hurt, it caused a guy to fumble. I've got to look at it that way. I still have smile on my face."

Rogers said he actually grew up in North Carolina in a family that rooted for the Cowboys, but as he got older he began following individual players more than teams and is ecstatic to be a Redskin now.

"How ironic that I would go to Redskins today, but I love to be a Redskin," Barnes said.

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Comments

From the NYT:
"A torn labrum in the shoulder of Andrew Gardner, a 6-foot-7 offensive tackle from Georgia Tech, should no longer be a particular issue. And the meniscus problem in the knee of Cincinnati’s Mike Mickens has not kept him from being a promising defensive back.

But analysis published in the April issue of The American Journal of Sports Medicine indicates that these players and dozens more may be riskier draft picks than most realize. The study, co-written by medical personnel from two N.F.L. teams, found that certain injury histories among players at certain positions — however healed — probably hamper their ability to play in the N.F.L. ...

The doctors asserted that the relationships were strong enough for teams to consider them when making draft picks."

From RI: ""It was my last hit [as a Terp]," Barnes said. "Even though I got hurt, it caused a guy to fumble. I've got to look at it that way. I still have smile on my face."

Rogers said he actually grew up in North Carolina in a family that rooted for the Cowboys, but as he got older he began following individual players more than teams and is ecstatic to be a Redskin now.

"How ironic that I would go to Redskins today, but I love to be a Redskin," Barnes said."

Yeah, "fixing" a top-six defense (or whatever it was statistically) should definitely have been our priority this offseason, not addressing the O line... well, aside from bringing back Derrick Dockery to replace the tough old man who was probably our best O lineman last season.

O-line was without a doubt our biggest area of struggle/need last season. Guys wore down and got injured. Right tackle spot was a mess all season long and got even messier after Chris Samuels went down.

After our presumed starting 5 (Samuels, Dock, Rab, Thomas, Jans) tell me how comfortable you are going into the season with the following depth?

At least they are not stubbornly sticking to the notion that Tryon can be a player, I guess. I think any OL selected from this point on is unlikely to be an upgrade to Heyer, considering he is already experienced in the NFL and with the offense.

Good point Nate. I got to think they will bring back Kendall. We can't count on Randy Thomas to play 16 games anymore. Kendall wasn't special but a fairly consistent guy. The right side of the line was the weak spot no doubt. We still have no replacement for Rabach who may be fading, no real backup for a declining Thomas and a question mark at RT unless Heyer steps up.

i like this pick...can never have enough cornerbacks, especially in a man-oriented defense...from his interviews he seems intellgent asl well, might be able to contribute right away if he can pick up the system quick

i like this pick...can never have enough cornerbacks, especially in a man-oriented defense...from his interviews he seems intellgent asl well, might be able to contribute right away if he can pick up the system quick

Posted by: altarkenton ****

yeah, and if he could block on the O-line, he'd give mister-slow-motion delivery more time! Should have added beef to the line. Great teams build from the lines out, not the other way around.

There were a few head scratchers, the biggest one being the Jets getting the San man for a song (a 2 pick and spare parts) after the pub about all the teams that were hot to trot on this dude. Another puzzler was the Ravens going for Oher at 23. Puzzler because (a) they already had 2 good OTs, (b) Oher fell so far, (c) the Ravens needed WRs for Flacco and Britt was available and (d) Newsome is supposed to know what he is doing.

What did you expect him to say? "Snyder fell in love with Cutler & Sanchez, but actually showed some restraint in negotiations, leaving JC out to dry." I think Zorn likes having a job, and so would you.

There were a few head scratchers, the biggest one being the Jets getting the San man for a song (a 2 pick and spare parts) after the pub about all the teams that were hot to trot on this dude. Another puzzler was the Ravens going for Oher at 23. Puzzler because (a) they already had 2 good OTs, (b) Oher fell so far, (c) the Ravens needed WRs for Flacco and Britt was available and (d) Newsome is supposed to know what he is doing.

Posted by: AntonChigurh | April 26, 2009 1:03 PM
========================================
So that leaves two alternatives: 1) Oher is a bad pick, or 2) Newsome doesn't know what he's doing (at least with respect to the Raven's first round pick yesterday).

My opinion: Oher was a good pick.

IMHO: The reason Oher fell so far is the Jets' trade plus the usual Al Davis insanity (picking DHB before Crabtree???) led to chaos in the top half of the 1st round.

I know Kevin personally and he is a very solid football player and will add depth. Whatever lineman we would have drafted at 80 wouldn't have started this year so why not take the best player on our board?

Again, good and great teams build from the lines out. Not the other way around.

Posted by: lsskinsfan | April 26, 2009 1:06 PM |

This cliche is also very popular, dude. "You can't win in the NFL unless you have a good QB." The Falcons drafted Matt Ryan at 3 in 2008 and assembled their OL from spare parts, went from losers to winners. Conclusion - there is a cliche for every point of view.

Yeah, "fixing" a top-six defense (or whatever it was statistically) should definitely have been our priority this offseason, not addressing the O line... well, aside from bringing back Derrick Dockery to replace the tough old man who was probably our best O lineman last season.

Yippee.

Posted by: NateinthePDX"

I don't wanna defend the pick(s), but what would you rather us do? Duke is still available right now and could be there in the 5th for all we know.

We lost Shawn Springs at corner and Marcus Washington at LB, along with Jason Taylor at DE never panning out. Those are all needs.

Guard, Center, and RT are also needs, but we've got our guard, and it looks like we could get another guard or maybe OT Jamon Meredith from USC in the 5th. There has been some quality dropping to the later roudns. Don't give up hope just yet.

How can anyone blame some young kid out of Carolina to like any team besides the Redskins. Root for Deion Sanders or any of the non descript losers we had since the last Superbowl. Which was almost two decade ago. I have a hard time being a fan after all this Sanchez/Cutler debacle. The days of D. Green, Monk, Coleman are long gone. A kid out of college doesn't know D Green 28 and they barley know 21 Deion...Sad,,but true

The Skins gave up two third round picks to get a coach they only kept for a year:http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/sports-shorts-0
They also gave up two mid-round picks for TJ Duckett and a second rounder for Jason Taylor. There are lots more of these examples (when the Skins traded Bailey for Portis, why did they have to throw in a second rounder?).

Would love to see the Skins start building from the draft, and maybe collecting picks rather than giving them away. And then maybe they will draft wisely. Hey, it could happen!

This cliche is also very popular, dude. "You can't win in the NFL unless you have a good QB." The Falcons drafted Matt Ryan at 3 in 2008 *****

You make my point for me about JC in your own statement. You have to have a good QB. Still, the line's win the games. I don't think it's a cliche, and evidently teams much better than ours believe it too. I pull for the Skins, and probably always will, but I refuse to wear the same rose-colored lenses many on here do. Especially after the past few dismal years under DS and VC.

To all you sheep crying about OL-- Heyer will take the right tackle spot and play just fine like he did when Jansen broke his ankle. They needed a slot corner and tryon will never make it through camp.. so let it be done.. also whoever said last years draft was a complete wash except for horton is a complete idiot. Plenty, plenty of all time great players had a weak if not horrible rookie season. the problem is fans see one rookie having a career year and automatically every rookie on our team is a wash, granted they were very disappointing but I think with the exception of tryon and rheinhart. they will show up this year. Actually Kareem Moore played some pretty good football down the stretch last year

We can't count on Randy Thomas to play 16 games anymore. Kendall wasn't special but a fairly consistent guy. The right side of the line was the weak spot no doubt. We still have no replacement for Rabach who may be fading, no real backup for a declining Thomas and a question mark at RT unless Heyer steps up.

Posted by: Posse81_83_84 | April 26, 2009 12:56 PM | Report abuse

We can't count on Samuels playing 16 games (when was the last time he did that?)

Heyer didn't hold up for 16 games. (He didn't even hold up for 2!).

Jansen can maybe stand there like a lightpost for 16 games when he's not suffering season-ending injuries.

Rabach and Dock are maybe our best bets to go 16 games.

And so I ask again - How comfortable are we feeling about our O-line?

Maybe 1 of our 6 cornerbacks can help block.

Or maybe one of our 7 DEs can help block on the line.

Or maybe we will just go ahead and play defense all game long and punt the ball away on first down whenever we get it.

What did you expect him to say? "Snyder fell in love with Cutler & Sanchez, but actually showed some restraint in negotiations, leaving JC out to dry." I think Zorn likes having a job, and so would you.

Posted by: wisdom80 | April 26, 2009 1:05 PM

Don't know what Zorn said on ESPN but he could have said something like "We never had any intention of acquiring Sanchez but we suckered the Jets into trading up and using the Brown's pick on him instead of Orakpo, thus allowing Orakpo to drop in our lap." Various ways to spin it so everyone saves face.

Everyone needs to stop complaining about putting "beef" on the offensive line. You can't just draft these 300lb linemen and put them on the line bc Mcshay and Kiper have them rated that high. Look what happened to Rhinehart last yr. If you are gonna spend on a player, get someone decent. I dont know if you guys realize this, but if Meredith and Robinson were so valuable, why are they still on the board in the middle of the 4th round. NE, supposedly great drafters, drafted some OG from penn state that I have never heard of. It's easy to always second guess. Last yr everyone was screaming for us to take one of those defensive ends. Did they pan out? Not really. Look for Devin Thomas to play rather well this year and show that he was not such a big bust. People need to chill out, no one ever hits on every draft pick. If we can get 2-3 solid players, this is a good draft.

Have you been paying attention? Heyer lasted 1-2 games last season before HE got injured and had to get replaced by Jansen (and then couldn't win bakc the spot).

They've said that they don't view Heyer as a starter in this league - only a backup.

They had so little faith in the potential of Rhinehart that he didn't even get ACTIVATED for games.

Hello!!

Posted by: p1funk | April 26, 2009 1:37 PM | Report abuse

Hello!!!!! there was not gonna be any winning that job back he was being punished for an unneccesary roughness penalty that cost Devin thomas a touchdown and again the season before he played very solid at the RT position

On paper, we may be better than last year, but so is everyone else in the NFC East, maybe a lot better. Philly just added two playmakers in Maclin and McCoy, not to mention O-Line help and DB depth via trade. The Giants already have a dominant O-Line yet they even picked up a RT to develop and added two WRs, a RB to replace D Ward and a LB (the only place they were weak on the defensive side of the ball). Talent-wise, on paper Dallas has us beat. If we don't pick up an OL somewhere today, this will be another draft filled with sexy toys for the Snyder-Cerrato demolition crew... dismantling our Redskins since 1999.

I love Cooley, but Davis is faster and younger. Maybe trade Cooley and Randle El for a quality strongside linebacker and a another tall receiver/or defensive end. Randle El's good, but not good enough to put us over the top. Moss needs someone to take the double teams away because he can fry anyone.

Why not bring in Mike Vick to return punts, kick offs and a few wildcat trick plays. Overpay him too, why not, Snyder's filthy rich and Vick needs it to get out of the hole.

The key to the season is D. Thomas and M. Kelly's contributions to the offense. No doubt!

Hello!!!!! there was not gonna be any winning that job back he was being punished for an unneccesary roughness penalty that cost Devin thomas a touchdown and again the season before he played very solid at the RT position

Posted by: skinztattoo89 | April 26, 2009 1:43 PM | Report abuse

?!?!?! What are you? One of the Skins line coaches? Is that what Zorn told you over beers or something?

That is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard!

They denied him a starting spot all season to "punish" him for an unnecessary roughness call that did NOT even end up costing us a game? Even though he is a BETTER right tackle?

Counter point to you 'ifthethunderdontgetya' is that 1) even though it may take a year or two for a OL to develop, they last for 10-15 years. And getting one now helps us out for the future, not just a band-aid for tomorrow. 2) The other piece is that our O-Line hasn't been healthy for an entire season YET. So 3 years projection is a pipe-dream. 3) Rhinehart didn't see the field last year but he was the only OL that we picked. The more you pick, the better chance you have a landing one that will see the field because their skillsets translate to the NFL easier than a WR, TE or tweener LB/DE.

So GM Ricky Roge would rebuild a defense that finished 4th in the NFL, choose two players for it that could very likely end up as situational players only.

Meanwhile, his offensive line, the oldest in the NFL, with almost every starter suffering injuries, 2 career threatening ... he does nothing, nothing, ignores the problem hoping it will go away.
Puts his head in the sand. Oh, and while he's at it he shove a shiv in the heart of his starting QB. His lone backup has not taken an NFL snap. If the backup plays it would be behind this line.

In the 3rd round of the NFL draft you do not draft for need. It is imperative at that point that you draft the best player available. Very successful teams have been using that strategy for decades because it works. Drafting for need in the mid to late rounds is for teams that want to stay mediocre. I'm not saying Barnes will work out but if he was the best player on their board then they did the right thing.

Late rounds is for teams that want to stay mediocre. I'm not saying Barnes will work out but if he was the best player on their board then they did the right thing.

Posted by: croftonpost | April 26, 2009

Gee Moron I keep looking over at what real experts at the draft, the Giants and Eagles are doing. The Giants already have 2 starters to replace Burress in Nicks and Barden. Barden is going to surprise a lot of people. The Giants selected an OT the Redskins really desperately needed! Go MOW THE LAWN KID YOU'RE AN IDIOT!

Is that fat guy from LSU, OG Herman Munster still available? Guy was he biggest baby in the history of Louisiana liierally--weighed about 40 pounds at birth), but lost something like thirty pounds when he worked out.

Counter point to you 'ifthethunderdontgetya' is that 1) even though it may take a year or two for a OL to develop, they last for 10-15 years. And getting one now helps us out for the future, not just a band-aid for tomorrow. 2) The other piece is that our O-Line hasn't been healthy for an entire season YET. So 3 years projection is a pipe-dream. 3) Rhinehart didn't see the field last year but he was the only OL that we picked. The more you pick, the better chance you have a landing one that will see the field because their skillsets translate to the NFL easier than a WR, TE or tweener LB/DE.

Is that fat guy from LSU, OG Herman Munster still available? Guy was he biggest baby in the history of Louisiana liierally--weighed about 40 pounds at birth), but lost something like thirty pounds when he worked out.

Sounds like he's worth a fifth rounder to me.

Posted by: TheCork

Now you're talkin'..This might appeal to Nero Barnum's sense of show bidness

Another rookie thunder ... yes we knew you were being sarcastic. But then we get accused of negativity ... but I absolutely can't wait for the season to start, the losses when these morons will again come out of the rafters to complain bitterly ... and oh I do hope Colt is their target this time!

What do ya'll think about trading a 5th or 6th round pick to get Michael Vick? I'm not saying I'm for it but I just want to start up a new conversation. They were just talking about the Falcons think someone will trade for him in the later rounds.

In the 3rd round of the NFL draft you do not draft for need. It is imperative at that point that you draft the best player available. Very successful teams have been using that strategy for decades because it works. Drafting for need in the mid to late rounds is for teams that want to stay mediocre. I'm not saying Barnes will work out but if he was the best player on their board then they did the right thing.

Is that fat guy from LSU, OG Herman Munster still available? Guy was he biggest baby in the history of Louisiana liierally--weighed about 40 pounds at birth), but lost something like thirty pounds when he worked out.

Sounds like he's worth a fifth rounder to me.

Posted by: TheCork

Now you're talkin'..This might appeal to Nero Barnum's sense of show bidness

Posted by: frak

AND he'll sell a lot of jerseys. And Snyder can charge MORE because they'll all be XXXXXXL size. AND think about "Herman Johnson Baby Onesies!"

I could be a marketing genius like The Dan, if I wasn't so beusy being snarky here.

Only reason why I mentioned Vick is because he excelled in the West Coast offense. I don't care about the legal issues (No one is perfect). But I was thinking it would be a steal to get a 1st round guy for a 5th or 6th round pick. Plus I think he will play as if he has a chip on his shoulder (Avoiding bankruptcy).

All the football sages up here know who will perform this year, who won't, who will be injured, and who will develop.

They must be the same seers who called the Atlanta Falcons going 11-5 last year and the emergence of Baltimore rookie QB Joe Flacco. I bet they also knew that Chris Horton was a diamond in the rough the day he was drafted.

I can't believe they don't have all 32 teams banging down their doors to hire them as scouts and/or general managers.

Heyer injured is better than Jansen being healthy. People make mistakes, and get injured in football. That doesn't mean they'll stay hurt or keeping making mistakes. He's 6'4 and young not 6 foot and beat up. Think about the future not the past.

Being a Nebraska alumni, did a quick search. Glenn formerly played RB and switched to LB in his senior year. Was performing quite well, third on team in tackles, but was suspended for violating team rules and missed the last 4 games(including the bowl game) Could not find the reason for the suspension.

I thought that Snyder & Cerrato were dumb. It appears they just mirror some of these posters. Things will be fine on the O-Line with Dockery back. Yes they are a little thin but I expect Jansen to bounce back. He was a great lineman for many years. Drafting a corner I never heard of was a bit strange but we definitely needed an upgrade over Tryon. Now we picked up two more LB's that will challenge Campbell & Blades. So all in all, we added depth in areas that needed it via the draft/free agency and left the downfield passing game alone because Zorn truly believes Malcom Kelly & Devin Thomas will step up & perform & disallow double teams on Santana.

I know the ole saying, you must have a great defense and a running game to make it to the Super Bowl. Last year the Skins ranked 4th overall on defense and 19th overall on Offense. Their problem was the lack of a playmaker and ability to get into the end zone on offense. Through free agency and the draft, no offensive skill players have been taken. I guess we got all of offensive punch in the 08 draft.

Robert henson could not be found in top thirty linebackers ranked and when i clicked on his name to see what was written, nothing was there. This pick has Mc Cune written all over it. Vinny is easily the most inept GM/decision maker in the history of this sport. only keeps his job because he is Danyboys lapdog as any real football man won't work for this guy because he wants to be like his idle jerry Jones. wants to be GM and owner. Love my skins -hate or front office decision makers. Let's talk about deals for QB's in the press and let our QB get hung out to dry. Jason, play ur a s s this year and then run from these clowns....RUN!

We can't count on Samuels playing 16 games (when was the last time he did that?)

Posted by: p1funk

Jesus christ. I know I often say Redskins fans have the shortest memories of any fans on earth, but sometimes it's borderline amnesia levels. When was the last time Samuels played 16 games? Are you being serious?? Try every year for the last several years.